pulled hard, led after 1f, hung right from over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well
broke well, chased leaders, effort over 1f out, stayed on well, never able to challenge
raced keenly tracking leaders, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in touch, headway over 2f out, effort on inside over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, some headway over 1f out, never on terms
led 1f, tracked leader, led again over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
The formbook points strongly towards MIA'S BOY in this as he had Mull Of Killough behind when beating subsequent winner Loyalty at Wolverhampton last month. That running gives him the beating of Clockmaker and Night Lily, who had their chances behind Loyalty a week later and failed, while Chris Dwyer's charge also counted Greensward and Zacynthus among his victims when scoring at Doncaster in October. That leaves us with Lockantanks, who is in the form of his life at present and beat Tarooq at Kempton last time, but steps up a couple of grades today and could get found out.
Mia's Boy 9-2 (9-7) Mid-division on inside, smooth headway over 1f out, shaken up inside final furlong, ridden and stayed on to lead narrowly near finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Loyalty (9-4) by ns, 10 ran.
Clockmaker (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, just held near finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind The Rectifier (9-2) at Kempton 7f cnd stks (4yo+) (4) pol.
Mull Of Killough (IRE) 7-2fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, headway on outside over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 10, 3l behind Mia's Boy (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Lockantanks 5-2fav (9-13) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, soon hard ridden, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Titan Triumph (9-1) by 1l, 8 ran.
Night Lily (IRE) (8-11) 3rd of 16, hd behind Glory Power (8-11) at Deauville(FR) 7f Listed stks (1) fbs.
Greensward 4-1 (9-4) Dwelt, towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, soon hampered, not recover, 11th of 12, 17l behind Clockmaker (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Zacynthus (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, driven and weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 12, 29l behind Riggins (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Tarooq (USA) 7-1 (9-7) Tracked leader and keen, led on bit over 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on and no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Lockantanks (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.